We got a little later start than we had hoped for due to updating the Web site and emailing everyone. We grabbed breakfast from the hotel's Reading Room and headed out to the subway. We were headed to one of the southern most stops in Brooklyn -- Coney Island and the New York Aquarium. The train ride took some time, we stopped at nearly every stop along the way due to some backup down the track, but about 50 minutes later, we arrived at Coney Island.

The aquarium was very well done. Like the zoo, the outdoor exhibits need to be animals that can withstand the cold temperatures of New York, so we were treated to sights like sea lions, otters and beluga whales. The indoor exhibits were also very cool. They had a new large display with stinging animals, like jellyfish and anemones -- very cool.

On our way out, we walked along the Boardwalk. Adam went out by the water, but I didn't want sand in my shoes. ;) We also got to see most of Coney Island's attractions. Since it was the off-season almost everything was boarded up and guarded by packs of rottweilers. Our subway ride back was shorter, we didn't stop at nearly as many stations.

We got off in Chinatown to grab some Dim Sum for lunch. We tried to go to a place recommended in one of our guidebooks, but it was closed and the windows were newspapered, so we went to one a few doors down (we had our choice of about 20 restaurants on the short block). It was a combination of both push cart and order Dim Sum, and it was good, but we've both had better at home. We walked around Chinatown a little, stopping in a bakery for an egg tart and a sesame ball.

Our next stop was the site of the World Trade Center. It was only a two subway stops away. They have rebuilt so much, there's very little sign of any tragedy; it looks mostly like a normal construction site now. Even the majority of the surrounding buildings have been totally restored. It was still very powerful though, and there were many people there.

We headed back to the hotel for a little downtime before that night's show. We then made our way to the theater, but wanted to grab a quick bite before the show. We stopped in The Famous Cozy's Soup 'n' Burger (which happens to be in the Adam Sandler movie "Big Daddy," although we didn't know that until later). We both had grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches (Adam with American cheese, Bekki with Swiss) to help tide us over. Adam also had a vanilla milkshake, which was quite good. We then made our way one block over and saw Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater. It was great! They've added a few new bits to the show recently, and they were awesome and fit right in. The theater was tiny, plus we were in the third row; it was definitely the closest we had been at any show. After the show we bought a shirt, beanie, a painting from a previous show and also the painting from that night; we're getting quite a collection.

According to Bekki, who overheard a conversation between a Blue Man and his sister after nearly everyone else had left, the Blue Man who made the painting was new and this was his first painting. The bad news is that we think he wanted it, but they had already sold it to us (and I didn't hear the conversation to, umm, possibly intervene). So, sorry, if he ever happens to reads this. (=

I was still a little hungry after the show, so after we returned the paintings and other booty to the room, we stopped in Bravo Pizza a block away for a quick bite before heading off to bed.

Photos

Main | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5